Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Śreyas and Paramārtha: The Ribhu–Nidāgha Teaching on Non-Dual Self

Advaita

Devanagari script

निष्पाद्यते क्रिया या तु सा भवित्री विनाशिनी । अनाशी परमार्थस्तु प्राज्ञैरभ्युपगम्यते ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

niṣpādyate kriyā yā tu sā bhavitrī vināśinī | anāśī paramārthastu prājñairabhyupagamyate || 24 ||

Translation

凡被造作而行之业，必先成而后坏；然至上实相（paramārtha）不坏不灭，此为智者所共许。

Word by Word

• निष्पाद्यते: is accomplished/produced
• निष्पाद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निष्+पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्रिया: action/ritual act
• क्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक, क्रिया-विशेषण (relative pronoun)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• सा: that (same)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; अन्वयार्थे (correlative)

• भवित्री: subject to becoming / coming-to-be
• भवित्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु) + भवितृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भविष्यत्-अर्थक कर्तृवाचक (agentive) ‘one that will become’

• विनाशिनी: perishable
• विनाशिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनाशी: imperishable
• अनाशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्+नाशिन्/अनाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक विशेषण ‘non-perishing’

• परमार्थः: highest truth/ultimate reality
• परमार्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• प्राज्ञैः: by the wise
• प्राज्ञैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक/करणवाचक ‘by the wise’

• अभ्युपगम्यते: is accepted/acknowledged
• अभ्युपगम्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+उप+गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘is accepted/acknowledged’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vairagya (as bhakti-adjacent detachment)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It distinguishes transient karma (all produced actions, including ritual performances) from the imperishable paramārtha, directing the seeker toward lasting realization rather than temporary results.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By showing that all actions are perishable, it supports bhakti offered to the imperishable Supreme as a means to transcend mere fruit-seeking ritualism and orient the heart toward the eternal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly frames ritual action (kriyā) as part of karmakāṇḍa—supported by Kalpa (ritual procedure)—while emphasizing that such disciplined rites yield finite outcomes compared to knowledge of the imperishable.